Silence is powerful. It can be a force for good, but it can also be a tool for evil. On the positive side, consider the majestic silence we experience when sitting alone in a church. It is indescribable, and uniquely tailored to each of us. It can deepen our faith, bring us closer to the Lord, and can help us reflect on all that our Lord, his church and today’s Christians have endured for thousands of years. It gives us strength, peace, and the desire to be better.
On the negative side, silence is a force that allows misconception, half-truth, and deception to be the only voice heard. We know the problems that negative silence creates, yet we allow the problems to exist, even though each of us has a responsibility to defend what we know to be true. Why is this so important, especially in today’s society? Let me share with you something that I learned in a Sunday sermon several years ago. It changed my life, literally.
Our pastor said “Satan does not have to make a person hate God in order to win. He only has to make them believe in something else”. He reminded us that the battle between good vs. evil may more appropriately be described as good vs indifference, and silence often = indifference.
Silence enables fear, ridicule and rejection. It can also be interpreted as a presumption of guilt. Silence has a voice, one that’s used both to mislead and attempt to prevent the truth.
Christianity is under attack, as it has been since the beginning. Even though Christianity is the largest religion in the world, with evidence of God (for those who take the time to look) that is all around us, the secular world frequently portrays Christians as believers in fairytales, and followers of a religion with no proof. The universe, the Bible, all that has been written and passed down through the generations… No proof? Who are they kidding? Far too many of us let silence be our only response. Christians are ridiculed by those whose eyes have been closed to the truth, those who care only about their current existence and those who simply refuse to believe the evidence that surrounds them. These are all examples of people that I refer to as believers in the “Giant Cosmic Space Mushroom” theory of the universe.
Yes, Christianity has more than its share of scandal, but that is the inevitable outcome in a fallen world of humans given to sin. Why would that be a surprise? Negativity, both that which is brought to bear from mankind’s own failures as well as that which is nothing more than engineered misinformation, surrounds us. As a result, Christianity is increasingly portrayed in a negative light. Think for a moment… When was the last time you saw Christianity portrayed in a positive light in our secular world compared to the latest negative article or attack? The battle is being waged all around us. Although we know the Church will never die, our silence results in the loss of souls in the battle between good and evil.
There are many reasons that people, especially our younger generation, leave the faith. One of the many reasons is that, even though they are surrounded by Christians, they feel they are alone. They are unarmed and misinformed due to poor catechesis. In a secular world that demands proof, they can’t properly vocalize the massive amount of evidence that surrounds us. They (wrongly) believe that religion is difficult to prove. They (again wrongly) think that very few people actually believe, and they are afraid of being ridiculed.
When we bury faith in our hearts and minds, we are emulating the servant who buried the single talent given to him in the parable of the servants (Matthew 25:14-30). We know in our hearts that we should speak out to dispel the misinformation, but let’s be honest; the vast majority of Catholics today are ill-equipped. Yes, there are tremendous resources that guide us, and shine the light of day towards a deeper understanding. Frankly however, those who realize that the resources exist and use them are relatively few in number. Even those of us who are not public speakers can help defend our faith and show the world that we believe through the use of silent evangelization. It’s easy to do, and so important, now more than ever.
We all can make a difference by using our voice to defend the faith, but through silent evangelization we impact many more people who would otherwise never “hear” us. I’ve adopted this philosophy over the last year. Let me share with you several methods and some personal examples of how silent evangelization can impact the world around us.
Let’s begin with the expression of faith possible by displaying a rosary hanging from a car mirror.
One day, several weeks after I started displaying a rosary from my mirror, I parked at a convenience store in front of a group of about 15 cyclists who had stopped for a break. When getting out of the car, I was approached by one of the cyclists. Did he ask me if I believe in fairytales? No, he said “where did you get the rosary, I have one exactly like it in my car!” That simple demonstration of faith not only provided a sense of unity, it also demonstrated that faith to the other 15 members of the group.
I have a license plate that proudly proclaims God first. Again, after parking at a store one day, I was approached by a man who stopped me to ask the meaning of my plate, which I was happy to explain. His response? “That’s interesting. You hardly ever see Christians….” And his voice trailed off as he realized what he had said. I smiled as we walked into the store together.
Of course, there are also those of us (myself included) who always wear a crucifix. I am not advocating a battle with HR departments at the office, at least not yet. However, I am saying that we see them all too infrequently when out in public. Whether it’s a clerk in a store, or people you meet in other situations, why not take a moment to compliment their cross or crucifix? I guarantee you’ll make their day in the same way it makes mine every time I see one or receive a compliment.
In closing, it’s important to remember that evangelization in any form requires courage in today’s world, as it has throughout time. Any form of evangelization, even silent, may be confronted by satan or pure ignorance. And yes, we may even be tested, or perhaps used as part of God’s plan, working thru us to test others. That’s fine. I know what my answer is. Please Lord, let me never have to say on Judgement Day “Lord, I buried that single talent”.